It is truly saddening to see just how easily some people forget their roots.

To be able to suggest to their fellow countrymen to migrate and don’t go back, just because they watch a video of a certain politician saying certain things that they don’t agree with, reflects a total absence of patriotism and a lack of a sense of gratitude.

They forget that when their parents and grandparents are poor, it is this nation that sheltered them and allowed them the opportunity to build up wealth. And now that they are wealthy enough to be able to travel to other countries and start a life elsewhere should they want to, they so easily entertain the idea of migrating. And promoting it.

These people should be ashamed of themselves.

Our country is undergoing a change, and change is difficult, it always is. Our forefathers fought and bled to death to effect change, from colonialism to independence. And yet we so easily refrain from staying and sticking together when our country is once again undergoing a change. Instead of putting our hearts and our efforts together to make sure that this nation emerged a better nation through this turmoil, we look only after ourselves and forget all others.

It just pains me to see how easily people forget who and what put them where they are now. Where has this quality called gratitude gone to?

People in other countries fought and bled and died effecting change in their countries.

The Japanese lost two cities – and countless lives – to the atomic bombs dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Having lost the World War 2, one can only imagine the effect to a country with so much pride, yet the Japanese people stood together and rebuilt their country, which is now one of the most technologically-advanced nation. Once again, they have so much to be proud of.

The Chinese people risk their lives – and some died – fighting for an economic and democratic reform against an authoritarian communist government.

The African-American community in the US fought together for equal rights, which culminated in hundreds of thousands of people gathering at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC. One can only imagine the extent of discrimination this community had to endure – all the humiliation, frustration, and suffering – before the Civil Rights Act and the National Voting Rights Act were established and granted them equal rights with the white citizens of the US. And today, a black American can be President.

And the list goes on.

Fact is, change is always hard, and revolution is even bitter.

A country will not grow and develop if its people run away at the slightest hint of discomfort. Left unchallenged, people will continue with their perverse ways. The least we can do is speak out against this perversity. Bailing out by migrating is simply a cowardly, truly selfish act.

It takes efforts, and suffering, and sacrifice, to build a nation. And we owe it to our forefathers, and generations to come after us, generations that will inherit this nation from us, to stand together and build this nation.

Let not our children and grandchildren curse us for abandoning our nation when it needs us the most.

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PL Monteiro

I see your point, about making a stand. However you may want to consider that those who may leave easily, are also the ones in better position to take responsibility, those who could affect change in meaningful ways if they only really cared. Those who lack the resources and opportunities to leave, the most affected by wrongdoings, are vulnerable to persecution in ways the world will not even know or acknowledge. If you are giving advice to someone else, that advice has to be “Leave. Go find a place where you can be all that you can be. Let the bad men drown in their own puke.”

seena

currently, i am doing my practical training in one of the ‘government’ bodies. in just a week, they told me so many things about ‘corruption’ that takes place within the company and to be honest with you, i am kind of confused; to appreciate or not to appreciate what we have now. we cannot blame the person who utter the statement; his intention might be “i don’t want my next generation to suffer” or “i don’t want this as this does not follow what i want and what i believe”. on top of that, they might be overwhelmed by all the ‘faults’ done by certain people; until it has also affected their rational thinking.

i hope that every Malaysian have the same thinking as you..

Emin Durak

I think it’s very nice, your sensibility, on these issues; but I’d just kindly like to recommend you to read the book called “Imagined Communities” that is on nationalism, explaining its roots. The main thing is that defending one’s country and all patriotism propaganda has a background which needs to be unveiled well to see the contrasting truth, especially for the people living in your geography.

Thanks for a nice platform.

Syahir Hakim

Thanks for the book suggestion, Emin. Will definitely take a look.

as

Nice.

Anik

I agree with you..whatever happens just don’t forget who you are, where you are from and what is your responsibility towards your country..